A campaign to reduce the death and injury toll on Shropshire roads has been launched by Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.
Hard hitting graphics with a range of road safety messages are now on the back of fire appliances around the county.
Firefighters are also working with Road Safety Professionals to promote the use of child safety seats to coincide with new laws being brought in on September 18 which demand that children under 4ft 5ins tall must be belted up in a child car seat or booster seat.
Nigel Hartin, Chair of Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority (pictured with Chief Fire Officer Alan Taylor), helped launch the road safety project at Bridgnorth Community Safety Open Day at the weekend. The fire service has also launched its own road safety web page at its www.shropshirefire.gov.uk website.
"There are nearly three times as many accidents involving cars in country areas than in towns with rural accidents more likely to result in serious injuries. We are working with colleagues from the Shropshire Partnership to further reduce this statistic," said Chief Fire Officer Alan Taylor.
The 500 visitors to the open day witnessed how firefighters' cut free people trapped in the mangled wreckage of their cars after a road crash.
A total of 19 victims were cut free from their wrecked vehicles in the Bridgnorth area alone by firefighters' last year.
Firefighters joined with many other community safety teams including police, ambulance, Bridgnorth District Council, Shropshire Road Safety Teams and the Community Council of Shropshire to host the event at the Innage Lane fire station.
There was also a chip pan fire safety demonstration, fire and road safety advice, and how to improve both your home and personal safety.
Experts were on hand to give advice on energy savings, keeping warm in winter, benefits and money advice, consumer rights, diabetes care, managing medicines and dental health.
"This was an exciting new partnership event which gave out useful information to the public on a wide range of subjects," said Mr Taylor.
Natalie Hill, Equality and Diversity Officer for Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service, and Mark Butler of Bridgnorth discuss the Retained Firefighter Service
A family day out: Tina, Archie and Steve Trow from Bridgnorth
Firefighters join with police and ambulance to demonstrate how a road crash victim is safely removed from the wreckage of their car.
Firefighters demonstrate chip pan fire
